Ash-sifting device



' Sept; 22, 1925. 1,554,439 I I F. H. LEHMAN ASH SIF"TING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W125 .s'es-r' Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,439

F. H. LEHMAN v ASH SIFTING DEUCE Filed Feb. 12, 192} 2 Sheets-Sheet 21 Egg. 6. do i 6 '46 I/ I J 3 24 \l I 13 2o" i l m 29 M v 1 l l illilllllll I Witness l I Inventor To all whom it may concern:

Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

PATENTrOFFlCE.

FRANK n; LEI-IMAN, on LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AsH -siF'rING DEVICE.

Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial-No; 618,578.

Be it known that I, FRANK H. ,LEHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Lebanon, countyof Lebanon, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ash-sifting Devices, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to improvements in ash sifting devices, and more especiallyto those adapted to be used in the household for sifting ashes drawn from stoves and fur naces.

In Letters Patent 'oflthe-United States, Numbers 1301,5 13 and 1A03A69, issued to me December 27, 1921 and January 10, 1922,

respectively, I have disclosed and claimedone which because ofits appearance and relative simplicity of construction and operation will make a stronger appeal to, the

prospective purchaser; the principal ele,

ments of novelty residing in the economic and common form and the simple character of the ash containing andf siftingelement,

the novel and economic can closure, and the relatively simple, efficient and cheaply made means employed for mounting, closing and. Y rotating the element within the closure, as

well as the manner of disposing the element in the mounting, the latter involving a nice;

and novel arrangement whereby a limited portion of the space of the canis sacrificed to the end of enabling the device to be very cheaply manufactured out of a minimum amount of material. Other objects and features of novelty willbe apparent from the description taken in connectionwith; the ac companying drawings in which :v I sectional view of .an embodiment ofmyrinvention, showing the portable ash sifting element.

Figure 1. is a central vertical mounted in position for rotation in the hood; Fig 2 a f ont elevational view there and supported on the edge'of the'can with the ash siftingelement disposed in mounted position therein.

Figure 3 is a view similar to" Fig. .Zshow ing the lid with theash' sifting element-removed therefrom and the closure carrying cross arm in retained position on the catch.

F igure 4c is aside elevation of the invention as shown in Fig.-3 with the cross arm in remote depending position, parts ofthe lid being broken away to more clearlyshow the construction. j v v g a Figure 5 is an elevation, 'partlylin sec'-' tion, of the portable ash containing andsift ing element.

Figure'6 ajtop view of said element with the "closure thereon, the latter being I showna son line 66 of Fig. 2. j Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken. on line 77 of Fig. 3; Figure 8, a fragmentary View taken on line 88 of Fig. 3,; and Figure 9 a fragmentary perspective view of the hinge member employed in connection with the cross arm.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the ash containing and sifting element employed'for carrying and separating the ashes, is constructed substantially in the form of an upwardly flaring bucket or pail 10 open at the top and having a closed im-, perforate bottom 12 andsidewalls 11,]and provided with the usualbail 13 for carrying it about in upright position. I In'the pres ent instance, for economy of construction,

1 preferably use for the outer member of the element a common commercial sheet metal pail, such as shown in Fig. 5. These pails are at thepresent" time verycheaply made in uniform styles and sizes andre-t quire ,butslight modification to render them] available for the purposes of the invention. Furthermore, people in general are accus tomed to seeing and handlingpails ofthis kind, and by utilizingfthe' same as the main. or" outer part of thef'sifting element, the

i of showing the lid turned to open position manner of using-and operatingthe Sifter becomes more immediately apparent, and

the instinctive prejudice against the use of the same as a novelutensil is largely over v come.- i Q The sifting member of the element. injthe. present improvement consists of a shell 14 of foraminous or reticulated materialcontained in spaced relation within the body of the pail, being secured. therein by, attachment of tom 12, or both the side walls and'bottonr I constructed in the capacity of; a rotary sifter, whereby ashes deposited 'therein'may' beeifectually sifted and separated, the valuthe lower edge 15' thereof-"any suitable manner either to the side wallsll, the hotat their juncture, as may lee-preferred. Said shell is preferably cylindrical in form, and

is simply and cheaply made by rolling'up' sheet of suitable material into a cylinder and securing together the" meeting 'or' opposite edges thereof. Inthe present'instance, the shell is secured "in the pail in "such fa manner th'at'th'e open upp'er fen'd or mouth lethere of," falls' substantially" concentrically within and slightly below the mou-th 18-"of'thefpail,

with theedg'e 17 thereof in a plane substan-- tially paralleIWith-the plane'of the mouth of the pail, thus preserving'the common general outward appearanceo'f "the pail and 'affrding omplete prot ction for the shell agai st 'dentin ianddistortion through 111 pact with foreign bJects with? which the element may be"broug'h't" into forcible conable unconsumed portionsthereof being conserved and retained in" the element, While the finer consumed'portion's', which pass through the mesh of" theshell, are ejected and dis charged,w Forthe'pm ose'or thus using the element, and forth'e' further purpose'of readily mounting'and adjusting it in 'appf-o' priate operative 'pbsitibn' and rendering I the sifting." operation" substa nitially' dustless, I"

provide means for rotatively and detach-- ablyf securing the element partially within and on th'e'jlowerside of a lid 19' which 'is adapted to 'befremovablyjseated on" an 'ash' canasf20,preferably of th-e conventional, cy

lindrical. type, shown.) Thej'lid iinithe pres:

ent -instance' is simply and cheaply made from aminimum' ainountof "sheet? metal by formin'g'the same, With a flat top or closure portion 21'adapted 'tolrestmver the mouth-f of thefcan", surrounding'said flat portion With a peripheral depending flange 22, and" erecting in the'central or]intermediatearea thereof a closed lro'ofdi 23,i' having I a contour substantiallysimilaritethat f the half part ofan axially dividedfrustrated cone, and 4 14; while permitting the siftings accumulat substantially conforming with but being sl'ightly'larger than thehalfcf "the" tonal-a irrg element, so that the latter mayib'e freely, and snugly receivedthe" efces's? thereby formed oifthelo'we'rbr finn'ers""e of'the'lid stantially in the plane of the'flat portion of the lid. As will be seen, the hood is entirely and completely closed, being formed with imperforateend walls-51 and 52, which, together with the arched wall 33 thereof are made continuous With the'surrounding flat portion of the lid, and thus form therewith an efficientd u'st proof closure for the ash can.

For removably' and ro'tatively" mounting andfsupporting the sifting element in the desired position on thejinner (side of'the lid, I employ adjustable rotative'frictionan'd closure clamping and locking means "for 'en gagem'ent with the bottom and mouth-of the element respectively," said means consisting ofa manually rotative friction disk '24" adapted to enter thei'recess forrned by the tine" at "thebott'om of "the pail, and a pivoted closure 25' of novel form' and for e teringthe'mouth of the pail and *cl'osing'th'emouth of the sifting-shell 143 V I The "friction disk 24 isn1'ounted on 'theend of a short shaftx'26 extending? externally i? of thefhood through a suitable perforation in the end wall 52 there'o'fand isjournaled in bearing openings 27 provided in the 'op' posite legs of an inverted u shaped' bearing bracket 28 secured to theendofthehood and to the'fla'nge' 22 of the'lid. terminates outwardly in a crank29 whereby it is adapted "to be rotated and the friction" diskiis secured to theinner end thereof in a snnple' manner' as by theuns'erti'on of a pin 30 transversely through the body of the disk and the shaft, a suitable transverse opening (not'shown), being'provided in the shaft for this purpose; suitable'spacing devic'esas -31 are interposed on the sh'aft'between the inner faceof the end wall' of thejhood and the diskto' prevent contact therebetween and to permit slight angular play of the disk on" the shaft. The

c1osur'e25 for engaging'the' opposite'end or mouth'of the element is centrally pivoted' forrotation at 'a suitable intermediatepoint on' a cross arm 32hinged 'on' one'side of the hoodadjacent thejuncturefiof the arched Wall 33 thereof and the fiat portion'of the lid, and is thu'sadapted'to be swunginto the hood recesslby neans'bf the" arm and brought to appropriate'central clampingand closing "position over the element in the up-' per'p'artbfth'e' hood. The closure, used in the "present invention is designed to perform three distinctfunctions," namely, that'of co operating with the friction disk in rotative' 1y supporting the'eleinent; thatof closing and 'sealin'gthe mouthof the'sifti'n'g shell ing 'in the" space intervenin "betweenthe shelland'the pail to pass forwardly thereof tlfblement', u ward or 'forw ard spring pres- Said shaft Washers or other For hinging the cross arm walls of the pail at a sufiicient number of pointstomaintain the latter in concentric relation with the pivot 34 and permittingga considerable portion of the area of the space intervening between the .shell and the pail to remain open and uncovered forthe passage of siftings. In the preferred form ofv the invention here shown, the plate is given a rectangular outline with the corners or an gular portions thereof cut away, and is reinforced and stiffened by turning up its marginal edges 53 at right angles, although as will be obvious it may be given a variety.

. of different shapesand forms, all falling within the scope of the invention.

32 to the lid I provide on one end thereof hinge pin 36 WhlCh 1s adapted to enter and be engaged by aknuckle disposed on the flat portion of the lid'adjacent one side of the hood, and tofbe. retained therein against lengthwise disengagement by a retaining head or finger 37. The opposite end of the arm is formed with a latch extension 38 adapted to pass under and engage the hook like keeper 39 projecting from the opposite side of the hood. The cross arm is likewise provided with a heel 40 disposed substantially in axial alignment with the pivot 34 but on the opposite .side of a line passing through the hinge and the keeper, said heel being adapted to abut against the flat portion of the lid immediately above the hood recess to act with the hinge knuckle 35 in preventing tortional or turning movement of the arm due to the weight of the element on the pivot, and to thus maintain the pivot in substantial alignment with the shaft 26, when the element is locked in horizontal position within the lid. I

Preferably the cross arm 32 is made by bending up a single length of suitable rod material into the form shown, an inte'rmedi ate section of the rod being 'V-shaped' and formed with a central arcuate apex 54' adapted to lie closely against the upper face of a relatively thin bearing block 55"centrally disposed on the upper side of the closure 25 and to thus follow the closure into the mouth of the element, while'the diverg ing legs of the section extend outwardly and upwardly at an appropriate angle to permit the ears 56 of-the pail topass under and clear the terminal portions of the legs when the arm is in locked position across the hood recess. One of the legs of the central section is then continued outwardly, downwardly and inwardlyto form the hinge pm and its retaining finger,and the opposite leg is extended outwardly. to form the latch 38 and thence continued upwardly, inwardly and downwardly across the apex 54 in a triangular loop to producefthe heel-40 'and the pivot 34. It will be noted thatin this construction the portion of'the rod extend ing from the heel to the pivot passes to the rear of and rests against the centralsectic'in,

and that the pivot is thus reinforced and w supported and is adapted to, be maintained] inproper alignment with the shaft 26 against the weight of the element, when the latter is mounted and locked in horizontal operativeposition within the lid. It will likewise be noted thatthe thrust of the element againstthe cross arm whenin such operative position is completely taken upby' the apex 54 of the central section, which latter forms a very simple and-efiicient bearing for this purpose; Since the closure maybe retained on the pivot in any simple manner as by means of a cotter pin as 46 "inserted in" a suitable. transverse opening adjacent theend thereof, it will be apparent thatthe cross-arm can be very economically produced in thismanner, relatively few'and" simple operations being required for itsmanufac- -J i i 5 p To avoid spillingthe ashes while introducmg and securing the ash containing element in the rotary means within the lid, it' isobviously essential that the element be continuously carried and held in a substantially upright vertical position throughout the entire mounting operation, and it is one of the features of this invention to provide hinging and supporting means which enable the lid to be turned to, and supported man upright open position over the edge of the ash can, so that the operation of introducing and locking the element therein may be per formed without the necessity of bodily lifting or removing the lid from the can.

The hinging and supporting means provided in the present invention for the accomplishment of this purpose comprise a hook like downward or inward extension 41 of the inner leg of the U shaped bearing bracket 28, a suitable opening being pro- 42 adapted to catch over the adjacent edge of'the can when the lid is turned to open position over the latter. As shown, the hook is spaced from the flange 22 of the lid, and the bill isdisposed slightly below the loweredge of the flange, so that while the lid m y e may remo e and againree placed on-the'mouthof thecanby simply lifting the same vertically therefrom asby means of-Tthe handle 43, it islikewise adapted tobe turned or swung over the edge of the can and toibe retainedthereon in ups rightor substantially vertical position by means of the hook, inwhichiposition it is readily accessible for. the introduction adjustment of the sifting element in; the manner described I I To enablethe closure '25 andits carrying crossarm32'to be swung aside suflieientlyto allow thev freei introduction of the sifting element into thehood and permittheproper.

"seating of the element onth-e friction disk 24", and-in order to enable the closure to be raised upwardly over the element to. .a sut fi-r cient extentgto clear the sam when ith'e cross arm is" thus swung inwardly on'its'hinge; the hinge knuckle 35, which in the present instanceris in the formiof a hookattached-as n44 (see Fig.39) to the inner wall of the hood, issodesigned-asto provide anupe wardly diverging opening, or channel 57 wherein thehinge-pin 36- has both retative and latera lxplay; The'up'per edge'of the knuckle isfurther chamfered outwardly as at. 58 to permit the cross arm'to swing freely over the same inthis-move1nent,-,and to enable the arm wheirin its extreme-re l mote or outward positiontor hang down wardly and inwardly toward the lid thus bringing its weight relatively close in to the pointwhere the lid is supported on the can.

It willv be apparent that, with nothing furthen than the support afforded by the hook 41, the lid when in open position on the can would tend to be unstable, the center of gravity thereof being located a considerableolistance above the point of support, and the weight of the cross arm and-closure being also above and to one side of-thesupport. TlllS' tendency is somewhat overcome by forming the hingeknuckle in the mannerv 1 described to bring the cross arm down relatively close to the lid, but in order -to -entirely obviate this tendency and-insure the complete stability of the lid, I additionally supply a member-adapted to co-operatewiththehook ll in providing a relatively wide purchase'or bearing for the lid on the edge ofthe can. present instance of a- Weshaped clip 45 which-is caught intermed-iately under the bill 42 of the hookand is provided with arms59 extending. laterally onxeither side i of the hook having their free ends 47 firmlyvattached to the lid adjacent the oppo-rsite-sides of the lower endof the hood re-V Thiscli-p is preferably made of spring wire-.material andsisof such shape and size thatwhen its ends are "thus'attached-te the lid: and the intermediate portion is sprung: under the bill of the-hook, th latter assumes: :an: arcuatez-shape falling inside and This member consists in. the,

following substantially. the are of; the adja= cent edge of-the can, with the; arms 59. there: of'passing. over the edge. ofthe can atI points sufficiently remote from :the hookto entirely counteract any rotary. tendency of tl1e 1idi.

rounding 7 intermediate space within the pail,

VVhenthus filled the element is takenwup by the-bail and carriedto the ash can 'in' the same manner as an ordinary-hod: or bucket, there being no danger of spilling or dropping the ashes on the floor while carry" ing. the same about. The lid l9 is'now taken bythehandle 43 and swung ,back :on

the hinge hook 4:1 over the edge: ofthe can-until the adjacent edgev ofqth e flange 22 abuts against the can 1 when the .lid will be in open upright position so, that the-:ele-

ment may readily be lifted intothe hood and seated on the friction disk 24. The cross arm I 32' is then swung upwardly and inwardly across thehoodrecess to carry the closure 25' over the mouth of the element, when with a slight downward and further inward movement and 1 pressure 7 on the freeend of the arm the closure is inserted in the m-outhfof' the element and the latch thrust home under the keeper, thus securely locking the element in operative rotary position. The lid is then returned to closedvposition over the" can when the element will be in substantially horizontal position f under the lidand may be'rotatedto sift the ashes by turningthe crank-29, the crank imparting. rotary movement to the friction disk 24:, and the latter in turn transmitting such movement to the element'throughfrictionalcontact with the bottom thereof. Aslwill be understood the rotationof the element causes thefiner consumed" portion of the ashesto drop through the meshes of the shell .14 into the intervening space between theshell and the pail, whence due to the flaring of the pail, continued rotation thereof urgesthe material forwardthrough theuncoveredspaces in the mouth o-fithe element and ejects the same therefrom Since the sifting operation takes place; ens tirelyunderithe lid, it will be apparent that alldust arising therefrom is confined within, the-can. jAfter the ashes have beenithoroughly sifted,t'he apparatus is left-to stand undisturbed a sufficient length of time to permitthe dust to become completely settled, whereupon the lidis again'opened and the element with the reclaimed cinderstherein removed.

To prevent-the cross arm 32 fromihanging down .in the-can when the sifter i-s- ;not

in' use, I supply means for detachably retaining the free end of the arm normally in relatively close proximity to the lid, said means consisting of a reentrantnotch 50 formed in the upper edge of the keeper 39 wherein, a member of the arm as 61, is adapted to be looselycaught and held.

a As will be obvious, since the lid rests loosethat when the sifting element is in mounted position over the ashcanapproximately onehalf portion thereof extends downwardly into the can, which arrangement while slightly limiting the capacity of the can, is an importanteconomic'al factor in the production of the lid, since it enables the lid with a suitable enclosing hood thereon, to be'made very cheaply from a minimum amount of material.

lVhatI claim is: v a g v 1. A rotary ash sifting device, including a portable ash containing element comprising an outer imperforate receptacle in the form of a pail and an inner foraminous sifting receptacle in the form of a cup, the mouth of the outer receptacle'being slightly above the mouth of the inner receptacle, and the walls of said receptacle being substantially spaced apart at the mouths thereof, to permit the free extrusion of ashes through the intervening space. V a

2. A rotary ash siftingvdevice, including a portable ash containing element comprising an outer imperforate receptacle and an inner foraminous sifting receptacle,f, said receptacles being upwardly spaced apart and the same being closed and rigidly connected to each other at their lower ends and being open at their upper ends, the mouth of the outer receptacle being disposed slightly above the mouth of the inner receptacle.

3. A rotary ash sifting device, including a portable ash containing element in the form of a pail, a foraminous sifting receptacle disposed within the pail and rigidly secured thereto adjacent the bottom thereof, said receptacle being open and spaced apart from the walls of the pail, at the top, and the same being of slightly less height than the pail, whereby the walls of the pail extend above the mouth of the receptacle.

4:. A rotary ash sifting device including a portable ash containing element in the form of an upwardly flaring pail, a foraminous sifting receptacle centrally disposed Within the pail and rigidly secured thereto adjacent the bottom thereof, said receptacle at its lower end conforming substantially with the bottom of the pail and being increasingly spaced apart upwardly from the side walls of the latter, and the mouth of the receptacle, being disposed measurablywith: in and below the mouth-"offthepail.

l3. 'A'rota ry ash sifting device includinga portable ash containing element in the form of an upwardly flaring pail, fa foraminous cylindrical sifting receptacle' centrally disposed within the pail and Qrigidlly secured thereto adjacent the bottom thereof, said sifting member being of substantially the same diameter as thebottom of the pail, and being slightly of less longitudinal extent than the pail, whereby the mouth of the receptacle falls slightly below the v of the pail. ,l 1 6, In a rotaryash sifting device, an. ash

containing elementcomprising a pail having a foraminous centrally, disposed cup-like siftingreceptacle rigidly secured therein,

said receptacle being spaced from a the surrounding side walls of the .pailtoj provide an intervening space for the reception of means for mounting androtatingi-said element, on a substantially horizontal axis, said means including a closure of suitable form to bodily enter thepail and effect, supporting engagement with the sidewalls of the latter adjacent the mouth, thereof, and to 3 cup-like sifting receptacle therein; I and means for removably mountingand rotating sald element'on a substantially horizontal axis, said means including 'arotatabl'y "mounted plateadapted to enter the mouth of the pail and overlie and close themouth of the receptacle, and to efl'ect supporting engagement with the side walls of the pail adjacent the mouth thereof, While leaving portions of the area of the mouth of the pail uncovered for the ejection therefrom. v I

8. In a rotary ash siftingdevice, a rotatable ash containing and sifting element of ashes ashes sifting from the receptacle, andthe mouth of the receptacle being disposed slightly below the mouth of the pail, and

having an open mouth, and means for removably mounting and rotating the element 'to sift the ashes, said means including a flat pivotally mounted closure and supporting plate adapted to enter, engage and partially overlie the mouth of the element, said plate being of. substantially rectangular outline and having, peripheral edge reinforcements.

9. In a rotary ash sifting device, a rotatable ash containing and sifting element having an open mouth, and means for removably mountin and rotating the element said means inclu ing a pivotally mounted plate of resilient material adapted to act as a a closure and support for the mouth of T311. In, a r tary sh the element and to v supply spring pressure for detachably lockingfla'ndYrnaintaining said element 1 in r'otative mounted position.

'10-."In 7 a rotary ash sitting device the combination with a lid for an ash can having a substantially flat top with a hooded recess thereinfof meansassociated With the lid for removably mounting and rotating an ash containing [and sifting element under thehood onfan axis substantially in the Qpl'anebfthe" fiat pOrtion of the lid, said means including a cross arm adapted to be i'emovably disposed and locked transversely across said recess and likewise substantially in the plane of; the fiatportion of. the lid, Said cross arm carrying a pivotally mounted member "for engag ngone' end of said element.

sifting device, the combination of a "rotatable ash containing andJsiftin'g element and a mounting torremovably supporting. and rotating said I ele- .ment therein, of means for removably securing andlocking said element in the mounting, said means including a cross arm carrying a pivoted member for engagement with one'end ofsaid element, said cross arm being hinged at one end to the mounting to mediately disposed. onone side thereof for carrying a .membenfor engagement -with one end of said element, said cross arm being hinged to the mounting at one end andibeing adapted to bedetachably locked thereto at its opposite end and a heelprovided onthe cross arm for abutment against the mounting to prevent torsional 'movement', thereof due .to the weight of the element, on the pivot when the element is in locked "position in the mounting.

a 13. In a rotary ash sifting device, the

combination with an ash containing and sittingelement in the torm'of afpail, of .means for removably mounting and rotating said element in substantially horizontal axial-position, said means comprising rotative-clamping and supporting members adapted to. be applied to5 the mouth and the bottom of the element, thememberapplicable to the bottom of the; element consisting of a manuallyrotative'plateadapted to effect supporting vengagement therewith and to permit the transmission of rotary movement to the element through frictionalcontact with the bottom.

' .14. In a rotary ashsifting devicefthe combination with an ash sifting element in the form of a pail, of means for removably mounting and rotating said element insubstantially horizontal axial position, said means comprising clamping and supporting membersadapted to beapplied to the mouth "and bottom of the element thefmember -applicable to the bottom'of theelement consi-sting of amanually rotative' flat plate adaptedto enter thetine recess ofthe pail and to coroperate'with the tine andthejbot 'tom thereof to eflect supporting engagement with 'the element and to permit the transmission of rotary movement thereto.

I In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

. ERANKH, LEHMAN; 

